RALEIGH, N.C. — Just as Martin Necas has thrust himself into the early-season Hart Trophy conversation, Jackson Blake has emerged as an unexpected top rookie a quarter of the way through the season.
Following the Carolina Hurricanes’ 6-3 loss Friday to the Florida Panthers, Blake ranks tied for third in goals with seven and ranks ninth in points with 10 despite logging just 12:05 of ice time per night. His three game-winning goals — including his power-play goal in Carolina’s come-from-behind win over the Rangers on Wednesday — are tied for the most among rookies and the eighth most in the NHL.
While the 21-year-old Blake’s skill is undeniable — he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist at the University of North Dakota last year — he made the Hurricanes out of training camp because of his nonstop motor and ability to play 200 feet.
“That’s why he’s here,” said Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal, who made the NHL as an 18-year-old after being selected second overall by the Penguins in 2006.
“There’s reasons guys make the NHL quicker or faster, or they figure out they need to contribute more than just being able to toe drag and put one top corner. It’s a full game. It’s every single little aspect to help you win, and it’s the details that this group does really well. And he’s jumped on board and done it. It’s why he’s here and why everybody seems to trust him.”
Jackson Blake, you are unreal. #UNDproud | #LGH
— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 28, 2024
Like Staal and Blake, Sebastian Aho jumped into the NHL without spending time in the American Hockey League. While Staal came into the league at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Aho wasn’t blessed with a lumberjack’s body.
“Some are maybe naturally bigger and stronger already at the younger age than other guys,” Aho said. (Blake’s) probably more like I was — there’s still improvement maybe in that department. Naturally, he will get stronger and faster and all that.”
Blake, listed at 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, is about the same size Aho was when he was drafted 35th overall in 2015. Aho, however, had a leg up on Blake in being ready for the rigors of the NHL.
“I’m pretty sure I played over 100 games before I got here, the year before, because I played the world champs and World Juniors, 60 games in Liiga and then playoffs,” Aho said. “So I played a ton of hockey before I got here. … He hasn’t played probably 82, not even close to 82, ever. So it’s how you adjust to that and be consistent night in, night out.”
Aho’s right — Blake played 40 games last year with the Fighting Hawks.
“It’s definitely a different schedule,” Blake said. “Playing half the games last year compared to this year, it’s crazy.”
Staal also benefited from playing in the Ontario Hockey League, which has a schedule similar to the NHL’s.
“I think the OHL helps with playing 68 games and playoffs,” he said. “I played a 100-game season the season before. But it’s still hard. I had some big lulls that year, ups and downs and all that stuff. I was still one of the bigger kids too, and I still had struggled with just playing against men and the day-to-day rigor of that.”
For its advantages, major junior hockey can’t match the experience Aho had playing against men in Finland’s Liiga or even Blake’s time in college.
“Two years in college, I was playing against, now, with the COVID and stuff, a lot of fifth-years — 25-year-olds, 24-year-olds,” Blake said. “They’re grown men in that league, so I think it’s the best thing to get you ready for this.”
So when Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk took a run at Blake earlier this month, he knew what to expect and ready himself for one of the league’s fiercer players.
“I just tried to protect myself as much as I (could). He’s a big boy,” Blake said, “and I’m not the biggest boy.”
Even off the ice, Blake has to adjust to life as a professional — living on his own, learning how to best take care of his body and adapting to the grind of an NHL season.
“You’re always helping him,” Staal said. “The longer you play, the more you realize it’s just really a day-to-day process. It’s every day, doing the same things over and over again, and just trying to get better and really just focusing on the monotonous part of that and letting the rest take care of itself.
“You make sure you push yourself, you take care of yourself and give yourself the best chance. And when you’re out there, you play as hard as you can. That’s all you really can do, and that’s all you can focus on.”
More than anything, that’s what’s helped Blake succeed early in his NHL career. His relentlessness during each shift and attention to detail without the puck have helped create the opportunities he’s been able to turn into offensive production.
“That’s one thing you can control,” Blake said. “If you’re not hunting pucks, what’re you doing out there, right? I really established that this year to kind of set the tone a little bit for me as a player. And I think it’s such a huge part. They call it the 50-50s, and hunting and winning those, I think, is a good thing for me.”
Coach Rod Brind’Amour noticed in training camp, and he’s continued to praise the rookie through the season’s first couple of months.
“This guy is just probably just happy to get a shift,” Brind’Amour said, “and he’s earning that next one, the next one. He’s getting more and more ice time because he deserves it.
“That’s a hockey player, and he gets it. And he’s picked up the other stuff really well. It’s been a quick transition for him, I think, in learning on the fly a little bit, but he’s a quick learner.”
(Photo: Josh Lavallee / NHLI via Getty Images)
